Pro Field Report

Basic Information

Observation Details

Observation Date:
January 22, 2023
Submitted:
January 22, 2023
Observer:
SAC - Scott Savage (OFF DUTY)
Zone or Region:
Soldier and Wood River Valley Mtns
Location:
Indian Creek (6000-8000': N-NW-W-SW, skied mostly W-NW)

Signs of Unstable Snow

Recent Avalanches? 
None Observed
Cracking? 
None Experienced
Collapsing? 
None Experienced

Snow Stability

Stability Rating: 
Very Good
Confidence in Rating: 
Moderate
Stability Trend: 

Bottom Line

The upper foot/30cm of the snowpack generally lacks a slab, except where large, obvious wind features exist. The larger wind features are faceting too, losing strength. While there is plenty of weak snow in the shallow snowpack, the lack of a slab is making it difficult to trigger avalanches in this area.

Advanced Information

Weather Summary

Cloud Cover:
Mostly Sunny
Temperature:
Single digits and teens F
Wind:
Light , NE
New/Recent Snowfall:
Up to 1cm of very low density snowfall overnight.

Low-level clouds mostly stayed in Croy and to the south, occasionally lapping over into Indian Creek. Near 8000', recent winds had drifted a little snow but did not form any slabs; there, winds were borderline light-moderate. There is some snow available for transport, but it would take a strong wind event to move the snow out of the concave gullies.

Snowpack Observations

Recreational ski day with no formal pits. The surface is weak (FC, SH, delicate low-density PP). The crusts above 12/26 have faceted away for the most part. Lingering wind slabs have lost a lot of strength.

Terrain Use

We skied open slopes up to 35*. We planned to avoid wind-loaded slopes over 35* and stuck with that plan.